Von Miller is good friends with Odell Beckham Jr., which is one reason why the Broncos star linebacker was especially looking forward to his game Sunday against the Giants in Denver.

“We had this game circled a long time ago,’’ Miller said Wednesday on a conference call. “This was a game that I was looking forward to playing in. I wanted to play. This is my first time playing against ‘O’ and the Giants, so I was looking forward to it. This was the game. That’s how it is when life happens.’’

Life certainly happened to Beckham, as he had surgery this week to repair a fractured left ankle and is on season-ending injured reserve.

“I talked to him and it’s just a tough situation,’’ said Miller, who spends time with Beckham in the offseason. “Every elite player in the National Football League has to overcome some type of injury once or twice in their career. The type of person that Odell is — I know him personally, so I know that he’s going to come back even stronger and better.’’

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This is shaping up to be a battered defensive unit. Safety Landon Collins (ankle), DE Olivier Vernon (ankle) and LB Jonathan Casillas (neck) all sat out. Collins and Casillas were hurt in the loss to the Chargers, and Vernon did not play, missing the first game of his NFL career after playing in 84 consecutive games.

“I’ll be ready Sunday,’’ Collins said. “I played through it throughout the game, was pretty sore afterwards but feeling great day by day. I’ve been through a couple ankle injuries since college so I know what I’m going through.’’

As expected, WR Sterling Shepard was not seen at practice. He is dealing with a sprained ankle that will surely keep him out Sunday. … Also not participating in practice were center Weston Richburg (concussion) and RB Paul Perkins (ribs).

With the Giants winless through five games and playing the final 11 games without Beckham and Marshall, it is time to project what they might do if they get a top-five pick in the 2018 draft. According to Bovada, the odds are 2-1 they take a quarterback in the first round and 1-3 they do not.